It is good to be back from holidays and to be looking forward to what September holds. One of the things that September holds is a return to school for many. There are students of varying ages who are entering classrooms to begin their studies for the very young or to continue their studies for those who are older. This time of the year always brings a certain measure of uncertainty about what to expect for both students and teachers. It will be our privilege for this week’s WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER to pray for all those who are part of the back to school adventure. We will pray that important learning will take place and that for those who are apprehensive that they will find their way. When we are praying for lessons that will be learned in school classrooms and as those learning do their homework, we can invite God to teach us persistent lessons that He for us to learn. Recall with me the words of Jesus God’s Son recorded in Matthew 11:20-30, Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” This is such a remarkable thought to consider that we can learn from Jesus. He is willing to be our personal Teacher. Jesus is prepared to demonstrate learning from Him that will result in rest for our souls. These are vital lessons for anyone to learn. If you are able, please plan to pause tomorrow September 7th at 1 pm for our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER when we can pray this prayer provided. If that time does not work for you, this prayer can be prayed at any time.
Trusting God to arrange for us to receive what He has for us to learn, Pastor Lola
Our God of love and grace thank you for this opportunity to pray now for all those who will be returning to school. This routine will require determination for students, parents, teachers, and support staff. We pray for all of them. As we consider the many challenges that currently face our educational system, we pray for realistic and practical solutions to these challenges. We are asking You to guide in the negotiations and planning that will be required. Our God we commit to you each school environment and ask for safety, good health and the well being of everyone. Where there are high levels of stress, we ask Your Spirit to be at work to help and to reassure. We know there are some who would want summer holidays to continue longer. There are some who are eager to be back at school and spending time with friends. We pray for those who may find it uncomfortable to be in new environments and trying to settle in and make friends. At this time, we pray for family members or friends and neighbours who are students, teachers or staff. Our interest in those we know and care about has us praying often for them. We extend our prayers to cover those we do not know personally, but who also need encouragement and assistance from You our God. We think of our own school experiences. For some school has been a positive time and for others not. We do pray that we will discover a positive experience of learning from Jesus. We know that Jesus is a patient Teacher. We are praying that we will learn and keep on learning from Jesus. Thank You for His promise to teach us to find rest for our souls. When we recognize how much Jesus loves us, we want to learn everything that He has to teach us. Thank You God that You know what we need to learn and that You are willing to teach us. Where we are resistant to learn from You or deceive ourselves into thinking we already know what is needed, we pray that You will forgive us and restore us to a place of depending on You completely. We commit this new school year to You God and pray that we will be reminded to keep on praying for those who are learning in the classroom and for those who are learning to know You more wherever they find themselves. Praise You God for the gift of learning from You. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.